Electrode for arc lamps



(No Model.)

A. O. SEIBOLD. ELECTRODE FOR ARC LAMPS.

No. 448,084. Patented Mar. 10, 1891.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT C. SEIBOLD, Ob )IOUX" VERNON, NElY YORK.

ELECTRODE FOR ARC LAMPS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 448,084, dated March 10, 1891.

Application filed December 24, 1890. Serial No. 375,701 (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: ent invention are not shown and described Be it known that I, ALBERT C. SEIBOLD, a in this specification. citizen of the United States, residing atMount The reference-numeral 3 denotes a casing Vernon, in the county of Westchester and or cylindrical holder formed of any suitable 5 State of New York, have invented new and metal and having such interior diameter that useful Improvements in Electric-Arc Lamps, the carbon 1 may move longitudinally therein of which the following is a specification. with ease. In the upper end of the cylindrical My invention relates to certain improveholder is inserted and fastened a metallic ments in electric-arclamps, the purpose theretube 4, having substantially the same diame- IQ of being to provide simple means applicable ter as the positive carbon, to enable said 0215- to any are lamp without change in its coning to be sustained by the carbon-holder of struction or mechanism, whereby the life of any are lamp. Upon the outer surface of the the carbons may be very materially prolonged casing or holder 1 is attached an insulated and a corresponding economy effected in the bracket 5, upon which is pivoted a lever 6, its

15 operation of the lamp. lower end extending down a little below the It is my purpose, in other words, to provide lower end of the casing 3 and having a mean extremely simple and comparatively ineX- tallie plate 7 mounted thereon in such manpensive attachment for are lamps whereby ner that it lies substantially at right angles those portions of the carbon electrodes adjawith the axis of the holder or easing, an open 20 cent to the points where the electric arc is ing 8 being formed therein substantially conformed shall be retained at a temperature centric with the holder or casing 3, but havconsiderably below that which is imparted ing a diameter somewhat less than the diunder systems of arc lighting now in use, ameter of the carbon 1, whereby the point of whereby I am able to retard the consumption the latter only will project below the plate '7.

25 of carbon or diminish the bulk thereof 0011- The lever 6 is so constructed that it will norsumed within a given time without in any mally hold said plate in the required position, degree alfecting the brillianey of the light. so that it may support the carbon. A spring My invention consists to these ends in the or any other-suitable means maybe employed novel parts and combinations of parts herefor this purpose, if necessary.

0 inafter fully set forth, and then more partic- The numeral 9 denotes a cap or shield for ularly pointed out and defined in the claims the negative carbon, consistingot a short mefollowing this specification. tallic tubehaving an interiordiameter slightly To enable others skilled in the art to undergreater than the diameter of the carbon stand my invention and to make, construct, The upper end of the cap or shield 9 is pro- 3 5 and use'the same, I will describe it in detail, vided with an inwardly-projecting edge 10, reference being had to the accompanying whereby the opening in the upper end of the drawings, in which cap is of less diameter than the carbon nega- Figure 1 is a central vertical section illustive, whereby said cap will rest upon the trating my invention applied to the carbon upper end of the carbon, which will project 40 electrodes of an arc lamp. Fig. 2 is a detail somewhat above the contracted open end of 0 section showing the construction by which the cap. In order to prevent the parts from the positive electrode is inserted. being lost inadvertently, they are connected In the said drawings the reference-immoral by a chain or cord 12 or other suitable device. 1 denotes the upper or positive carbon elec- The operation of these parts as thus far 45 trode, and the numeral 2 designates the lower described is as follows: The carbon holder or 9 5 or negative carbon, both being arranged in a case 3 is placed in the lamp by inserting the lamp of usual or ordinary form in the welltube 4 in the upper-carbon clamp, and the known manner. positive carbon electrode is inserted in the The lamp and its mechanism being old and holder or case by operating the lever 6 in such 50 having no necessary connection with the presmanner as to swing the plate 7 away from the too lower end thereof. The carbon 1 is then introduced and pushed up until its point only projects beyond the open lower end of the casing, when the lever is restored to'its origi- 5 nal-position, whereupon the plate 7 will support the carbon with its end projecting somewhat. through the opening 8. A spiral spring 13 is arranged above the carbon 1 and between it and the tube 4 to press the end of 10 said carbon through the opening 8. The negative electrode 2 is placed in the lower-carbon clamp of the lamp, and the cap or shield 9 is placed thereon. Both the attachments for the chain or other fastening 12 are insulated 15 from the holder or casing and from the shield or cap. hen the current is cut cit, the points of the two electrodes 1 and 2 are in contact; but when the current is turned on the feeding devices of the lamp raise the positive 2 electrode 1 slightly and separate its point from the negative electrode, the electric are being formed between the two. Both the carbon points, being in contact with the arc, become intensely heated; but those portions 2 5 which are inclosed by the metal holder or casing and byt-he cap or shield are necessarily kept at a low temperature as compared with the exposed ends, and the rapidity of consumption of the carbons is thereby largely decreased. As the consumption proceeds, the positive carbon is lowered in the holder or casing 3 by the tension of the spring 13, and as the negative carbon burns away the feeding mechanism of the lamp lowers the holder 3, so that the arc is constantly maintained. As the negative carbon 2 is consumed, the tubular cap or shield 9 gradually descends by gravity, so that a portion or point of the carbon always projects above the surrounding 0 metal.

By my invention I not only ett'ect a great economy in the consumption of the carbons, but the use of the holder or casing 3 for the positive carbon permits the use of short pieces of carbon, several of which may be arranged therein at once. These pieces,which are now thrown away as useless, may thus be used, with a considerable resulting economy.

What I claim is 1. In an electric-arc lamp, a holder or casing for the positive-carbon electrode, consisting of a metallic tube having aninterior diameter freely admitting the carbon, the lower end of said tube being provided with a removable flat plate arranged in immediate proximity to 5 5 the are and having an opening of somewhat less diameter than the carbon, substantially as described.

2. In an arc lamp, the combination, with the clamp for the upper-carbon electrode, of a 6c metallic tubular holder or casing having an interior diameter freely admitting the positive carbon and provided upon its lower open end with a removable flat plate arranged in immediate proximity to the arc and having an opening of less diameter than the carbon electrode to receive and sustain the point of the latter, substantially as described.

3. In an arc lamp, the combination, with a metallic holder or casing adapted to receive the positive-carbon electrode and attachable to the upper-carbon clamp of the lamp, of a lever fulcrumed on said holder and having a metallic plate upon its end provided with an opening of less diameter than the carbon, said plate being normally held by the lever beneath the lower open end of the carbon-holder to sustain the carbon projecting through the said opening, substantially as described.

4. An arc lamp having a metallic tubular 8o holder inclosing the positive carbon and provided with a removable flat plate arranged in immediate proximity to the arc to sustain the carbon, through an opening in which the point of the carbon projects, and a metallic cap or shield consisting of a short cylinder having an inwardly-turned edge upon its upper end, said cylinder surrounding the upper portion of the negative carbon and sustained thereon by the inwardly-turned edge, which rests upon 0 the end or point of said carbon, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ALBERT o. sEns'oLn. [n s] Vitnesses:

HENRY HOYT, CHRISTIAN G. MoRITz. 

